Capacitive touch systems and methods using differential signal techniques

An approach for determining touch location on a touch panel includes receiving information indicative of which of the electrodes in the first set of electrodes are not experiencing, or are unlikely to experience, a touch is received. Based on the received information, at least one electrode is selected from the first set of electrodes to function as a first reference electrode, remaining ones of the first set of electrodes referred to as first remaining electrode. Touch signals are measured for at least some of the touch panel nodes using a differential technique. The differential technique for each such node utilizes the first reference electrode in combination with at least one of the first remaining electrodes and with at least one of the electrodes from the second set of electrodes.